Designing an Attic Kitchen

Design

Solutions for optimising this type of setting

Sloping roof, visible beams, dormer windows and skylights: the attic has an intimate fascination that often sets the stage for great scenic effects. Living here, does however mean considering all space limits and therefore designing rooms carefully, choosing furniture, colours and light sources that are well able to optimise it.

The attic kitchen must be well-lit,

it is therefore best positioned where there is the greatest number of windows, in order to make the best of the natural light.

Designing the environment

Attics generally have sloping ceilings, a layout that reduces usability in the lower areas, preventing the arrangement of standard height elements.

The choice therefore has to fall to solutions exploiting horizontal space more than vertical.

For kitchens, for example, best to avoid wall units and storage units generally that develop upwards, opting instead for low bases and made-to-measure furniture.

Organising the kitchen

In most attics, the kitchen is at one with the lounge. One idea to this end, if the room size allows, may be to go for a small peninsula to allow food preparation to take place in complete freedom in the middle of the room.
This element can be a perpendicular extension of bases reserved to the task of storage, strategically inserted into the lowest part.
If there are two of you living there, it can also be used as a table.
With regard to electrical appliances, on the other hand, the best solution is that of a built-in, under worktop option, including the refrigerator (there are also models that fit snugly under the worktop and feature convenient drawers).

Consider light, in all senses

The attic kitchen must be well-lit and is therefore best positioned where there is the greatest number of windows, in order to make the best of the natural light.
To improve, add to or increase light, artificial lighting is also used. In this case, the ideal solution is to create small light points with wall lights with arms that can be adjusted both laterally and in height (in order to be able to direct it where it is most needed), free-standing lights and built-in spotlights (that take up very little room).
It is equally important to consider the roofing used, because this type of environment tends to become very hot in the summer months. To protect against the heat and light of the summer sun, the most appropriate solution is to opt for a dual function model with an inner blind and external sunshade. The external part will filter the sun's rays - reducing the heat that could enter the apartment by 40% - while the internal part creates pleasant areas of shade inside.

Personalise the attic with the right colours

Some colour choices can help improve visual perception of space in the attic.
Light colours, as we know, visually expand rooms, giving them more light: the first recommendation is therefore to prefer softer hues (photo to the left) or pastel colours (yellow, aquamarine), for both furniture and finishes.
Again, for the same reason, it is best to leave the walls of the areas most in shade white, and particularly those with the lowest ceilings.
The feeling of intimacy can be accentuated by touches of warmer hues, like wooden elements for furniture, red and earthen colours for accessories.